Difference between revisions of "Disney Roebuck"

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
Line 1: Line 1:
 
(1819-1885) British actor-manager who had a great influence on theatre in South Africa.  
 
(1819-1885) British actor-manager who had a great influence on theatre in South Africa.  
  
Born Francis Algernon Disney, he originally followed a military career, becoming a Captain in the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers. During these years he was active in [[Garrison Theatre|garrison theatre]]. He initially performed and toured in England as an [[Amateur|amateur]], but eventually became a [[Professional|professional]] actor-manager. After an initial tour to South Africa with a company in 1873, he would regularly take companies on tour to Australia and South Africa, often with Shakespearean works. He died in Sea Point, Cape Town in 22nd March 1885.
 
  
Arrived in Cape Town with his theatre company in 1873 and toured with a production called ''[[David Garrick]]'' (1873). In 1875 the company travelled inland, one tour to Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown and King William's Town, the other to Kimberley. He also performed in Durban *(e.g. ''[[Hamlet]]'' in 1876)  He leased and ran the [[Theatre Royal]] in Cape Town between 1876 and 1883/4, when it burnt down. He returned to London while it was rebuilt and re-occupied it in 1885, but unfortunately died in the same year.  
+
== Biography ==
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Born Francis Algernon Disney, he originally followed a military career, becoming a Captain in the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers. During these years he was active in [[Garrison Theatre|garrison theatre]]. He initially performed and toured in England as an [[Amateur|amateur]], but eventually became a [[Professional|professional]] actor-manager. After an initial tour to South Africa with a company in 1873, he would regularly take companies on tour to Australia and South Africa, often with Shakespearean works.
 +
 
 +
He arrived in Cape Town with his theatre company in 1873 and toured with a production called ''[[David Garrick]]'' (1873). In 1875 the company travelled inland, one tour to Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown and King William's Town, the other to Kimberley. He also performed in Durban *(e.g. ''[[Hamlet]]'' in 1876)   
 +
 
 +
He leased and ran the [[Theatre Royal]] in Cape Town between 1876 and 1883/4, but it burnt down in 1884. He returned to London while it was being rebuilt and returned to re-occupy it in 1885, but unfortunately died in Sea Point, Cape Town in 22nd March 1885.  
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== Productions ==
 +
 
 
    
 
    
  

Revision as of 10:56, 11 January 2015

(1819-1885) British actor-manager who had a great influence on theatre in South Africa.


Biography

Born Francis Algernon Disney, he originally followed a military career, becoming a Captain in the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers. During these years he was active in garrison theatre. He initially performed and toured in England as an amateur, but eventually became a professional actor-manager. After an initial tour to South Africa with a company in 1873, he would regularly take companies on tour to Australia and South Africa, often with Shakespearean works.

He arrived in Cape Town with his theatre company in 1873 and toured with a production called David Garrick (1873). In 1875 the company travelled inland, one tour to Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown and King William's Town, the other to Kimberley. He also performed in Durban *(e.g. Hamlet in 1876)

He leased and ran the Theatre Royal in Cape Town between 1876 and 1883/4, but it burnt down in 1884. He returned to London while it was being rebuilt and returned to re-occupy it in 1885, but unfortunately died in Sea Point, Cape Town in 22nd March 1885.


Productions

Among his other major productions in South Africa were The Octoroon (1876), Hamlet (1876), Othello (1877)Pygmalion, Gilbert's Galilea, Our Boys**, ** . **

Sources

Jill Fletcher 1994

Stopforth 1955, pp96-7

http://www.eggsa.org/library/main.php?g2_itemId=176365

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/Criticism/shakespearein/sa2.html

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0736264/

For more information

Return to

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page